Page 39 - Fine Japanese Art November 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke
P. 39

27  |   AKASOFU GYOKKO: FUJIWARA NO YASUMASA
                                                                                                            By Akasofu Gyokko, signed Gyokko
                                                                                                            Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)


                                                                                                            The heavily cast two-color patinated bronze okimono in distinct
                                                                                                            Miyao style with its gilt accents and fine engraving superbly
                                                                                                            portraying the military commander Fujiwara no Yasumasa. Fujiwara
                                                                                                            no Yasumasa plays a flute on the Ichihara Moor, wears an eboshi
                                                                                                            and is clad in a wind-swept hitatare garment with phoenix crests
                                                                                                            and mitsugashira hidari tomoe mons picked out in massive
                                                                                                            gilding. His piercing eyes are inlaid in silver and bronze. He carries
                                                                                                            a removable katana sword. The statue is supported on a carved
                                                                                                            openwork wood stand embellished with floral scrolls. The gilt
                                                                                                            signature cartouche on the back reads GYOKKO.
                                                                                                            HEIGHT 35 cm (including the stand)
                                                                                                            WEIGHT 3.8 kilograms (including the stand)
                                                                                                            Condition: Superb condition with only minor wear and traces of
                                                                                                            use. The stand with some abrasions, a fine natural patina, minute
                                                                                                            losses and age cracks. The statue still retains the original Katana.
                                                                                                            Rare!
                                                                                                            Provenance: From an English private collection. Acquired in Italy
                                                                                                            on August 9th, 1976, at Galleria Morosini, according to and old
                                                                                                            handwritten collector label at the base.

                                                                                                            Auction result comparison: Compare with a closely related figure
                                                                                                            of Fujiwara no Yasumasa at Bonham’s San Francisco on December
                                                                                                            9th, 2008, in Fine Asian Works of Art, lot 5228, sold for USD
                                                                                                            $19.200,-.
                                                                                                            Estimate EUR 8.000,-
                                                                                                            Starting price EUR 4.000,-

















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